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- Fabiano Caruana leads the Candidates Tournament betting at 13/8.
- Hikaru Nakamura sits second favourite at 13/5.
- The event runs 28 March – 16 April in Cyprus, deciding who faces World Champion Gukesh.
Road to the World Chess Championship Begins
The road to the 2026 World Chess Championship begins this spring with the FIDE Candidates Tournament, where eight elite grandmasters will battle to earn the right to challenge reigning champion Gukesh Dommaraju.
Taking place from 28 March to 16 April 2026, the tournament will be hosted at the Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort in Pegeia, Cyprus.
As anticipation builds for one of the most prestigious events in the chess calendar, bookmakers have already opened markets on which player will win the Candidates and secure the championship match later in the year.
According to the latest odds from bet365, American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana heads the market.
2026 Candidates Tournament Winner Odds
| 2026 Candidates Chess Winner | Odds | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Fabiano Caruana | 13/8 | 38.1% |
| Hikaru Nakamura | 13/5 | 27.8% |
| R Praggnanandhaa | 5/1 | 16.7% |
| Javokhir Sindarov | 13/2 | 13.3% |
| Anish Giri | 8/1 | 11.1% |
| Wei Yi | 18/1 | 5.3% |
| Andrey Esipenko | 25/1 | 3.8% |
| Matthias Blübaum | 66/1 | 1.5% |
Caruana’s 13/8 price makes him the favourite to win the tournament and return to the World Championship match for the second time in his career.
Caruana and Nakamura Lead Strong American Challenge
Fabiano Caruana enters the tournament as one of the most consistent players in elite chess over the past decade.
The 33-year-old American, currently ranked world number three with a rating of 2795, qualified by winning the 2024 FIDE Circuit.
Close behind him in the betting is fellow American Hikaru Nakamura, who currently holds the world number two ranking with a rating of 2810.
Nakamura qualified through having the highest average rating between August 2025 and January 2026, and his aggressive style has made him a fan favourite.
International Field Completes Candidates Line-Up
The remaining places in the tournament were decided through the World Cup and Grand Swiss qualification routes.
| Qualification Route | Player | Country | Rating | World Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 FIDE Circuit Winner | Fabiano Caruana | USA | 2795 | #3 |
| Highest Avg. Rating | Hikaru Nakamura | USA | 2810 | #2 |
| World Cup Winner | Javokhir Sindarov | Uzbekistan | 2745 | #12 |
| World Cup Runner-Up | Wei Yi | China | 2754 | #7 |
| World Cup 3rd Place | Andrey Esipenko | FIDE (Russia) | 2698 | #33 |
| 2025 FIDE Circuit Winner | R Praggnanandhaa | India | 2741 | #13 |
| Grand Swiss Winner | Anish Giri | Netherlands | 2753 | #8 |
| Grand Swiss Runner-Up | Matthias Blübaum | Germany | 2698 | #32 |
Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri, currently world number eight, is priced at 8/1, while Chinese star Wei Yi is available at 18/1.
Candidates Tournament Set for Global Attention
The Candidates Tournament has historically produced some of the most dramatic moments in chess, with players competing in a gruelling round-robin format to determine the challenger for the world title.
With experienced contenders like Caruana and Nakamura facing off against rising stars including Praggnanandhaa and Sindarov, the 2026 edition promises to be one of the most intriguing tournaments in recent years.
By the time the final round concludes in Cyprus this April, the chess world will know who will face World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju for the sport’s ultimate prize.
For bettors interested in novelty and specialist markets, the best chess betting sites highlight platforms offering a wide variety of betting options beyond traditional sports.
